Legendary KTLA 5 entertainment reporter Sam Rubin has been posthumously honored at the 76th Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards.
The Los Angeles Regional Emmy Awards, which recognize locally produced programming in categories including live and breaking news, crime and social issues and the arts, were hosted by Michaela Pereira on Saturday night at the Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Wilshire.
KTLA won two awards: Best Live Special Event News Coverage of the 2023 WeHo Pride Parade (awarded to 14 notable KTLA producers, directors, hosts and reporters) and Best Entertainment News Story for KTLA 5 Morning News’ coverage of the SAG-AFTRA strikes. The latter award was presented to the late Sam Rubin.
In addition to winning the award in the Entertainment News category, Sam also received the 76th Los Angeles Regional Emmy Governor’s Award for his work covering entertainment news for over 30 years at KTLA.
KTLA News Director Erica Hill Rodriguez speaks during the 76th Annual Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards on July 28, 2024.
KTLA 5’s Jessica Holmes and Eric Spielman speak during the 76th Annual Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards on July 28, 2024.
Colby Rubin gives a speech at the 76th Annual Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards on July 28, 2024.
Darcy Rubin delivers a speech at the 76th Annual Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards on July 28, 2024.
KTLA 5’s Jessica Holmes and Eric Spielman presented the Governor’s Award to Sam’s children, Darcy and Colby, during a ceremony Saturday night.
‘You were and always will be my hero’: Colby Rubin shares heartfelt message to late father
“What he did every morning on the air was amazing,” Spielman said. “Whenever I asked him to ‘Save the show,’ he’d joke, ‘I don’t know if I could,’ but he always did.”
Spielman then thanked the Academy for honoring Sam, after which Darcy and Colby were introduced to a standing ovation.